When in Rome ... On Local Norms and Sentencing Decisions ...

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Abrams, David; Galbiati, Roberto; Henry, Emeric; Philippe, Arnaud
• 署名单位: University of Pennsylvania; University of Bristol
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1542-4766
• DOI: 10.1093/jeea/jvab038
• 发表日期: 2022
• 页码: 700-738
• 关键词: enforcement; GUIDELINES

摘要

We study spatial variation in criminal sentencing. We show the existence of local sentencing practices varying widely even across geographically proximate areas. Using compulsory rotation of judges in North Carolina, we find that judges arriving in a new court gradually converge toward local sentencing practices. We provide evidence that convergence in sentencing corresponds to a process of learning about local practices, which is accelerated by the presence of senior judges in the district, and that these sentencing practices are correlated with local norms of behavior. Finally, we discuss the theoretical implications of these results for the optimal design of judicial systems.